Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

Welcome aboard, Baron!

It looks like the final choice is up to Rex. When this has been completed, we can finalize the game parameters I suggested at the beginning.

There has been talk of the tech cost and talk of limiting a team to one atmosphere type.

At this time, I am in favor of a medium tech cost (and will agree to a high tech cost if it gets enough support from the team players).

As to atmosphere types, how about 2 different' atmosphere types for each team? This reduces a lot of micro-management while (I hope) helping to even out the game a bit.

Finally, a word about the game and competition:

Of course, this is only my opinion and may not be shared by others but here I go:

2 high-rated players have assembled a team that they think are the best players to be chosen from. I plan to do my best to help my team win. Chances are that if the team I am on wins I will gain at least a few points even if I finish 4th. If/when our team wins, THEN I will enter phase 2 of the game...deciding to fight against my teammates for a higher position (or, as is usually my choice, throw my "vote" for deciding who among the winning team should get which finishing place without having to fight it out. Rex knows how I feel about this (from Anklebiters) and Alneyan knows how I feel about this (from the 2 team games I have enjoyed with him). And as the first team game Alneyan and I won shows, worrying about the team victory (first) and sharing ships and resources showed, a true partnership will have an advantage over a team whose players are more concerned about watching over how they are doing as an individual.

Just my thoughts...the team opposing "my" team can do whatever they wish... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif .

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

If Joachim is interested we'd like to draft him.

Also:

As far as the rules I am game for anything.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

About the rules, I would indeed prefer a limit of two atmospheres, and at least a Medium tech cost. If a vote was needed, I would favour a High tech cost, but I do not mind much either way, so long as I can actually survive... well, twenty turns or even thirty!

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">After the first battle results in the Pairs game, I'm surprised Asmala even considered me, unless he can see the trap that I have laid down for him. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

I can't refuse this honor - Thanks Asmala. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Your ships were obsolete so I knew I'd win the battle. Light cruisers with APB 7 and normal shields can't beat battleships and dreadnoughts with PPB 5 and special armors. Your fleet had time to inflict considerable damage before being destroyed, though.

I don't care whether it's high or medium tech cost, but I like very much about that two atmosphere limit (though after meeting enemy and capturing some population it could be four different atmospheres...)

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">For sure! It would be an honour.

Happy with what ever rules are agreed on.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

Welcome aboard, Joachim!

Then, concerning atmosphere and tech, how about this: (1) 2 atmospheres per team and high tech cost or (2) 1 atmosphere per team and medium tech cost?

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

I have no preferences either way, so I'll cast my vote with my Admiral.

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<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I vote for option (2), just for the sake of minimizing micromanagement.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

I have no preference. What ever the Commander & Chief prefers.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

I think Spoon and Electrum have a good idea. Let's leave it up to the Commanders.

So far we have:

Turn Times: 48 hours till turn 15 (then 72 hours)
Map: Large (to be set up fairly by an approved non-player dividing teams across the map)
Type: To be decided
Racial restrictions: 2,000 points; 1 good starting planet; Low tech cost; No trait will be lowered to show "non-existant"; No Religious
Game restrictions: No mines; No intel; All players on a team must take the same colony type but a DIFFERENT atmosphere; surrender/gifts/trades/(etc.) allowed

Currently in question are atmospheres and tech cost.

As others, I will agree with what my commander prefers.

Yes, I know the setup of this game is taking a while but it is entirely possible, as in a 2 x 2 team game, that one team will finish in places 1 - 4 and the other will finish in places 5- 8...meaning quite a few points for the persons on the top and bottom.

This ISN'T a game where you made a treaty with a person halfway through the game and can dispose of them if they fall way behind...this is a game of what people believe to be the best (available) players in the Ratings system and will (most likely) combine the ability of each as a single player with their ability to contribute to the goal of the whole team.

So, Asmala and RexTorres...what are your thoughts on settings?

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

I would add no Ancient trait.

I would propose 1 colony type and 1 atmosphere per side. No one can take the "none" atmosphere type.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Sounds like a fair proposal! As to Ancient, I must have missed it (when I proposed the game) because I think the game would be better without it.

So, Rex, any opinions on tech cost?

(I'm off to bed)

Asmala? Counter comments?

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

a Question:
We will have no intel & no racial traits to Non-existant. Does that mean we need to keep our intel trait above non-existant too? Seems a waste.

[ April 29, 2004, 21:46: Message edited by: Electrum ]

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Considering no intel, I would think we can allow that ONE trait to be non-existant. Thanks for pointing it out.

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<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I second these (i.e. I vote option (2)). About tech cost, I don't care whether it's medium or high.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

The Great Ratings Team Bash

This is what we have agreed upon so far:

Turn Times: 48 hours till turn 15 (then 72 hours)
Map: Large (to be set up fairly by an approved non-player dividing teams across the map)
Type: To be decided
Racial restrictions: 2,000 points; 1 good starting planet; Medium tech cost; No trait will be lowered to show "non-existant" (except Intel); No Religious
Game restrictions: No mines; No intel; No ancient; All players on a team must take the same colony type and same atmosphere; No one is allowed to take NONE atmosphere; surrender/gifts/trades/(etc.) allowed.

I added the part about NO NONE atmosphere since Admiral RexTorres suggested it and Admiral Asmala didn't object.

I'll toss out one more option that people may care about and that is a suggestion to allow all stellar manipulation except "openers" and "closers". My feeling is that we want to see who can find the strategic places on the map, hold them, build and train better fleets, etc. instead of it being a rush to build the first hole behind enemy lines. So I would suggest we outlaw openers and closers.

Also, what kind of map do we want? A random large map generated from the game? An FQM map (that doesn't require everyone to have the mod)? Want to ask Tesco to do us a "solid"?

As to layout, I see it like this (the x's represent systems and the numbers represent team members):

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x 1 x x x x x x x x x x x x x 5 x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x 2 x x x x x x x x x x x x x 6 x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x 3 x x x x x x x x x x x x x 7 x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x 4 x x x x x x x x x x x x x 8 x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

I think we should ban openers. Especially in team games it would be just a race to them.

About map, well, almost everything suits for me.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

Weren't they Banned in the first draft (or perhaps the first update) of the rules? Even if I am enamored with Stellar Manipulation, I second the notion that Warp Openers and Closers are out of this game. (With four players in each game, it would be a very quick race, and afterwards a long march towards the enemy)

*Coughs* Would having your homesystem in the middle of a blackhole, with a "Pull all ships 11 tiles towards its center" ability, qualify as being fine for you Asmala? Somehow, my rest would be easier if it were so, and... I am digressing. *Smirks*

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Note the word almost http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

It seemed almost fine for me, a nice challenge for you to overcome. Truth be told, we do want you to enjoy this game, so a little twist may help to prevent you from being too annoyed. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

We need a volunteer to make a map and set up starting positions for the teams following the small "map" I posted below. Not sure who is reading this thread so we might need to contact someone we know that can do the job.

And teams can be deciding atmospheres.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

Ya know, the Baron did a nice map in our 2x2 Challenge...I wonder if he'd do it since Geo seems busy with school these days (and Tesco hasn't said anything).

I'd dearly love to play this game because I think Rex put together a good team (except for me). BUT, if need be, I can withdraw and let Rex choose another in my place and I can put together a fair map. The only problem is that Asmala would have to expect Stone Mill would be chosen in my place...and he would surely object to that.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

Well, Grazic is in their team so I guess he won't be able to make the map.

The other solution would be to allow the Ancient trait, since there would be then no advantage to make the map. Besides, it would be easy to see if there was an unfairness such as what I had proposed about Asmala's homeworld, so I gather it may be a solution if nobody outside the game can make a nice map.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

I think a large map and random placement is fine. If things are too far out of whack we can deal with it then.

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<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Hmmm, how does Homer go? "DOH!" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/blush.gif

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

Bump!

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<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">The idea was to place the teams on each side as I described below. I would surely hate random placement put me "inside" of 3 enemy empires... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif .

Since we can't seem to find a volunteer (I really thought Tesco might offer), how about if I ask Gryphin?

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

I haven't been following the thread closely. Can you summarize what sort of criteria you'd need for the map? I might be able to do it if it's a simple random map with specified placment.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">That's pretty much it, Geo...a large random map (not sure which would be the best kind) with specified placement. Pretty much like the "Challenge" game we played in over a year ago. If you browse down a page or two, you can see what I had in mind (please excuse the silly way of showing the system...it was cheap and easy).

Thanks for taking a look http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

Your chart makes it look like you want a grid map, is that correct or am I reading that too literally?

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

Hehe, what about that spehere map I made? I think Asmala and Bbegemott used it in a game once. I could put each team of four together in a quad of four systems, and space the quads a good way apart. Eh, probably too radical... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I'll let others decide if a grid map is too radical but I think it is.

Actually, the map looks the way it is due to the confines of doing it with characters http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

I would think a large Galactic Edge or Spiral Arm (generating over and over till it had lots of planets and looked like it sported good placement for 2 teams of 4) would be fine.

Thanks bunches, Geo. I know you've been busy with school and all.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

Sorry guys, but as much as I don't want to, I have to pull out of this game.
I've just had to unespecidedly work 65 hours this week and its only Friday morning with a LOT more work left, and it appears that starting next month I might be as busy a lot more often.
Sorry.

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I wish you could find the time to play, Baron. I wouldn't want you to participate if you couldn't give it proper time but remember, after a set amount of turns, it goes from 48 hours to 72 hour response. But, if you see that as a burden, it's better to get another player in...instead of having to drop out after the game has started.

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What's up with this. Is it a dead game?

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Not necessarily. When The Baron dropped, I wasn't sure what to do. I gave it some time to see if he would change his mind. While waiting to see, I noticed there weren't many inquiries (till yours) about the status of the game. I took that to indicate a possible lack of interest.

IF there IS still interest, then a replacement would need to be found for The Baron. There are people available now (whose starting rating of 1,000 points doesn't really represent their ability) who weren't available when the draft was started. So, I hesitate to look at those as, hmmmm, fair replacements. But, if everyone on our team voted to allow anyone on the list as an acceptable choice, then I'd go along with it.

On the other hand, saying Asmala must choose a replacement for the Baron from the people who were on the list at the time the draft started...well, I'm not sure that's fair either...to be forced to take, perhaps, someone with lessor ability than the Baron.

SO, I'm a bit at a loss as to what to do. (did I make sense?)

Re: Rated Game Proposal
 

I think Asmala would be hard pressed to find someone with lesser talent than myself. I'm only average at best.
Sorry guys, I have time now to play, but by the end of the month I won't. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif